Insect-catcher.



'R. H. COX. INSECT OATGHER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 22, 1913.

mamas [III Patented May 5, 1914.

Irma/27a; filerfflf 0.10.

UNITED STATES PATENT orricn ROBERT HAN'HAM COX, OF LISTOWEL, IRELAND.

INSECT-CATCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 22, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HANHAM Cox, a subject of His Majesty the King of England, residing at Listowel, in the county of Kerry, Ireland, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Insect Catcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new or improved fly-trap or hand instrument or weapon, with a darting out and snapping action, for the capture and destruction of flies, wasps and other insects; it being a well known fact that flies and other insects are capable of communicating various diseases to man, so that their destruction, or partial destruction would be of benefit to mankind.

My invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an enlarged section of the instrument, the gripping blades and parts of which are at about the middle of their stroke. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

and Fig. 3 is a plan.

In carrying my invention into effect I employ the following chief parts. A frame a of metal, wood, vulcanite, celluloidor the like, is in the form of a tube or cylinder closed at one end, having a fine annular elevation on its inner surface at or near the open end, and being divided into two equal parts by a longitudinal slot a through both sides of the tube. At the closed end of the tube a, beginning close to the bottom and extending upward for a suitable distance, two fine parallel slots a are cut in both sides of the tube, lengthwise also but atopposite sides to the long slot. The two narrow strips thus formed have each a conical external elevation a, to engage in the holes (1 of the traveling collar (l (to be later described).

Movably mounted in the tube a are two gripping fingers Z), of metal, vulcanite, celluloid, wood or the like, in the form'of two thin strips, hinged together at their inner ends by a pin 1) long enough to project through the long slot at of the frame (a to the traveling collar (Z. Just away from the hinge 7) each strip is bent toward the other to nearly right-angles and a suitable distance farther on each strip is bent away from the other to such an extent that when the remaining portions of the strips come together they lie in contact for their whole extent. The four corners formed by the first bend may be cut away, if necessary, to

Patented May 5, 1914. Serial No. 756,208.

allow of free movement in the frame. The terminal of each blade may be pierced with holes or slots, to augment gripping power and reduce air disturbance during action.

For engagingthe fingers b I provide a blade guide 0 of metal, celluloid, vulcanite or the like, which is of cup-shape, and provided with a slight flange at the junction of the wall with the bottom. An annular depression (to fit the annular elevation of the wall with the bottom. An annular depres sion (to fit the annular elevation of the frame) is formed in the outer wall near its middle. Through the bottom of the cup two parallel slots 0 are cut and of a size to freely admit of the passage of the hinged gripping blades 2) to nearly as far as the bend next the hinge b. In a line midway between these parallel slots two notches are cut, opposite each other, in the wall of the cup as deep as the far side of the annu lar depression, and corresponding with the long slot a of the frame a when in position. The traveling collar (Z of metal, vulcanite, celluloid or the like, is of cylindrical shape, and of a diameter to permit of the easy passage through it of the fore part of the tubular frame a. At one end perforations are made to receive the ends of the hinge-pin b of the gripping fingers Z), and at the other end, but in a line between these hinge-pin holes, two larger apertures d are cut, to receive the conical elevations a of the strips of the frame and with them form a trigger.

The mainspring e'is an ordinary, normally open, finewire spiral spring, having a suitable extension action and a suitable capacity of compression. I also provide a hoop clamp f in the form of a circular band and of a size to fit tightly on the end of the frame a when the blade guide 0 is in position.

The parts above described are joined together in the following way :The gripping fingers b are joined to the traveling collar d by fastening the ends of the hinge-pin b into the smaller holes of the said collar d, with the blades outward. The two rounded ends of the gripping blades are then passed through the parallel slots 0 of the blade guide 0 from the concave end. The mainspring 6 is then inserted into the tubular frame a and first the traveling collar (Z and then the hoop clamp f are slipped over the fore part of the frame a. As the hinge-pin b. enters the double slot at of the frame a,

pushing the mainspring 0 before it, the blade guide 0 should be inserted into the open end of the frame (4 till stopped by the slight flange formed thereon, the notches 0 being in line with the slots at and the annular depression and elevation engaged, then the hoop clamp f is slipped forward to the end of the frame and so locks the parts 0 and a together. Now, if the traveling collar d be drawn back till its apertures (Z receive the conical elevations a of the frame a, and is held there till lateral pressure applied to the strips below the collar releases it, the instrument is ready for use.

The manner of using the instrument is as follows Press the collar (Z down till it engages with the elevations a of the frame. Then, hold the instrument lightly at the strips below the said collard between the right thumb and first and second fingers, approach the fly or other insect to be caught till the points of the gripping fingers 6 held level are at a suitable distance from it, the instrument pointing directly at it and being held on or near the same plane as that of the part upon which it rests, with no obstacle to interfere with the complete action of the gripping blades. Then by applying greater pressure to the instrument with the thumb and fore-finger, the spring is released driving the gripping blades Z) quickly through the blade guide 0, which causes them while advancing first to open and, when the first the bend is met, then to shut and to remain shut. If the aim is true the fiy will be found tightly held between the gripping blades 6 and may be then directly transferred to a bottle or other receptacle, release being accomplished by pulling the collar (Z backward.

lVhen not required for immediate use the parts of the instrument may be put together in the following way :Place the spring a in the frame a. Insert the rounded ends of the gripping fingers b inside the spring 6 and pass in till the traveling collar (Z reaches the end of the frame a and passes over it. Put the hoop clamp if also over the end of the frame a. and slip down. Insertthe blade guide into the open end of the frame and pull the hoop clamp f back to the end of the frame. Thusthe gripping fingers b are pro tected from injury while the strain is taken off the spring 6, and the instrument is made more compact for stowage and transport.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is z- 1. A device of the character described comprising a casing, gripping fingers mounted in the casing, means to project the fingers outwardly of the casing, means to releasably hold the fingers in the casing, and means whereby the releasing means may be operated to permit the fingers to move outwardly quickly and operate to grip between them the object sought to be caught.

2. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a plurality of yieldable gripping fingers mounted in the casing, means to project the fingers outwardly of the casing, the fingers when projected being adapted to clap together, means to releasably hold the fingers in the casing, and means whereby the releasing means may be released to permit the fingers to move outwardly quickly and operate to clap together and grip between them the object sought to be caught.

3. A device of the character described comprising a casing provided at one end with spaced slots, a plurality of gripping fingers mounted in the casing for projection through said slots and having their inner ends deflected away from and contracted toward each other with the contracted ends hingedly connected together, the outer ends of the fingers being adapted to normally spring into engagement with each other when projected out of the casing, and being held out of normal engagement with each other at their outer ends by said slots when drawn into the casing, means to releasably hold the fingers inwardly of the casing, and means operable upon release of the releasing means to project the fingers outwardly of the casing through said spaced slots so that the fingers may spring together and grip between them the object sought to be caught.

4. A device of the character described comprising a casing having oppositely disposed slots in its sides and also having spaced slots in one end, a plurality of gripping fingers mounted in the casing for projection through said spaced slots in one end of the casing and having their inner ends deflected and then brought together, means including a pintle to hingedly connect the fingers together at their inner ends, the pintle of the hinge connection extending through said side slots, the outer ends of the fingers being adapted to normally spring toward each other when projected and being held away from each other by said spaced slots when retracted into the casing, means having a normal tendency to force the fingers outwardly of the casing, a sleeve slidably embracing the casing and connected to said hinge pintle and provided with apertures, the casing having pairs of slits on opposite sides and an element between the slits of each pair of slits to releasably engage in said apertures of said sleeve so that, upon pressing inwardly upon said slitted portions of the casing, the fingers may be re leased and the fingers projected outwardly through said spaced slots to spring toward each other and thereby grip between them the object sought to be caught.

5. A device of the character described comprising a casing, gripping fingers mounted in the casing, the gripping fingers being hingedly connected together at their inner ends, means normally operable to project the fingers outwardly of the casing, the fingers being constructed to clap together when projected and being held in spaced relation when retracted, means to releasably hold the fingers retracted in the casing, and means whereby the releasing means may be operated to permit the fingers to move outwardly quickly and grip between them the object sought to be caught.

6. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a plurality of spring actuated gripping fingers mounted in the casing, means to hold the fingers normally retracted in the casing, and means operable upon release of the last-named means to quickly project the fingers from the casjected the flat faces thereof are brought together, means to releasably hold the fingers in the casing, and means whereby upon operating the releasing means the fingers move outwardly quickly and operate to present their flat faces together to grip between them the object sought to be caught.

8. A device of the character described comprising a casing, gripping fingers mounted in the casing, means to releasably hold the fingers retracted in the casing, means to project the fingers outwardly of the casing against the holding action of the releasable means, the fingers being so constructed that when the releasing means is operated to permit the fingers to project outwardly of the casing they move outwardly in separated relation until a certain point in the projection thereof when they close together and grip between them the object sought to be caught.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT HANI-IAM COX.

W'itnesses DAVID C. GLENN, PHILH J. Fox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

